2020–21 Mercury Elite Hockey League

The 2020–21 Mercury Elite Hockey League is the fifth season of the Mercury Elite Hockey League, the premier ice hockey league in Mercury. The league will be contested by 24 teams, including 6 international clubs.

Qualification

Qualification for the MCHL will be determined according to the following criteria:

• Craitish Cosmos and Dyas Stiks qualify automatically
• Regular season champions
• Play-off champions
• Northern, Central and Southern Conference champions, best team from the International Conference, barring Craitish Cosmos and Dyas Stiks.
• If any team qualifies through more than one of the above criteria, then the remaining berths will be allocated to the highest-placed teams in the overall standings.

Regular season

The league's 24 teams play a 66-game schedule from August 2020 to March 2021. Each team plays every other team in the league twice, and each team in their conference a further four times. At the end of the season, the top two teams in each conference advance to the play-offs in addition to the eight next-highest ranked teams in the overall standings.

Legend
	Qualified to play-offs and MCHL
	Qualified to play-offs
	Qualified to MCHL
XXX	Conference leader

Team	Conf.	Pld	RW	OTW	OTL	RL	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Conference leaders
Nafferton Panthers	CEN	66	48	5	3	10	287	161	+126	157
Bisminster Battalion	NOR	66	45	5	3	13	256	154	+102	148
Dyas Stiks	INT	66	42	9	1	14	279	178	+101	145
Tow Law Bears	SOU	66	41	4	4	17	264	184	+80	135
Kuiper Jets	CEN	66	38	7	6	15	263	200	+63	134
Hanseong Stingrays	NOR	66	35	7	4	20	239	197	+42	123
Craitish Cosmos	INT	66	35	4	1	26	241	206	+35	114
Deacon Thunder	SOU	66	27	8	5	26	223	227	−4	102
Wildcard standings
Mercury Hornets	CEN	66	38	5	8	15	267	183	+84	132
PB Polar Bears	NOR	66	35	6	1	24	232	187	+45	118
Savona Sport	INT	66	29	3	8	26	230	232	−2	101
Whitby Warriors	NOR	66	27	4	9	26	229	235	−6	98
Kincester Kraken	SOU	66	24	8	7	27	216	224	−8	95
Pelmanby Penguins	NOR	66	26	4	5	31	204	204	0	91
Castleton Vikings	CEN	66	24	6	7	29	231	228	+3	91
Newcastle Leopards	INT	66	21	6	7	32	218	221	−3	82
Clarkson Pirates	NOR	66	19	6	6	35	173	241	−68	75
Harlby Hawks	SOU	66	20	4	5	37	177	233	−56	73
West Grinstead Wasps	SOU	66	18	5	7	36	178	239	−61	71
Eastmoor Archers	CEN	66	16	5	6	39	180	283	−103	64
Longstoke Lions	SOU	66	15	5	9	37	174	249	−75	64
Taylor Torpedoes	CEN	66	16	5	5	40	194	260	−66	63
Plennomorets Chetgavan	INT	66	15	4	6	41	189	273	−84	59
NV Devils	INT	66	11	1	3	51	159	304	−145	38
Tie-breaking criteria: 1) If the tied teams have not played an equal amount of head-to-head matches, position of teams from the same Conference in the Conference standings (eliminating teams from broken ties), 2) Head-to-head points between remaining tied teams, 3) Head-to-head goal difference, 4) Total regulation wins, 5) Total wins, 6) Goal difference, 7) Goals scored.

Play-offs

Bracket

	Round of 16 (Best of 5)					Quarter-finals (Best of 5)					Semi-finals (Best of 7)					Final (Best of 7)
	1	Nafferton Panthers	3
	16	Newcastle Leopards	2
						1	Nafferton Panthers	3
						10	PB Polar Bears	0
	7	Craitish Cosmos	2
	10	PB Polar Bears	3
											1	Nafferton Panthers	4
											4	Tow Law Bears	2
	4	Tow Law Bears	3
	13	Kincester Kraken	0
						4	Tow Law Bears	3
						5	Kuiper Jets	0
	5	Kuiper Jets	3
	12	Whitby Warriors	0
																1	Nafferton Panthers	4
															2	Bisminster Battalion	3
	2	Bisminster Battalion	3
	15	Castleton Vikings	1
						2	Bisminster Battalion	3
						8	Deacon Thunder	1
	8	Deacon Thunder	3
	9	Mercury Hornets	2
											2	Bisminster Battalion	4
											3	Dyas Stiks	1
	3	Dyas Stiks	3
	14	Pelmanby Penguins	2
						3	Dyas Stiks	3
						6	Hanseong Stingrays	0
	6	Hanseong Stingrays	3
	11	Savona Sport	1

Round of 16

The round of 16 was played as a best-of-five series in February–March 2021.

	Nafferton Panthers (#1)	3 – 2	(#16) Newcastle Leopards
Nafferton Panthers (#1) v (#16) Newcastle Leopards 24 February 2021 Nafferton Panthers (#1) 2 – 1 OT (1–1, 0–0, 0–0) (OT: 1–0) (#16) Newcastle Leopards
Nafferton Panthers (#1) v (#16) Newcastle Leopards 27 February 2021 Nafferton Panthers (#1) 4 – 3 (2–1, 1–1, 1–1) (#16) Newcastle Leopards
Newcastle Leopards (#16) v (#1) Nafferton Panthers 28 February 2021 Newcastle Leopards (#16) 4 – 3 OT (2–1, 0–2, 1–0) (OT: 1–0) (#1) Nafferton Panthers
Newcastle Leopards (#16) v (#1) Nafferton Panthers 2 March 2021 Newcastle Leopards (#16) 2 – 1 OT (0–0, 0–1, 1–0) (OT: 1–0) (#1) Nafferton Panthers
Nafferton Panthers (#1) v (#16) Newcastle Leopards 4 March 2021 Nafferton Panthers (#1) 4 – 2 (1–0, 2–0, 1–2) (#16) Newcastle Leopards

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	Bisminster Battalion (#2)	3 – 1	(#15) Castleton Vikings
Bisminster Battalion (#2) v (#15) Castleton Vikings 24 February 2021 Bisminster Battalion (#2) 1 – 2 OT (1–0, 0–0, 0–1) (OT: 0–1) (#15) Castleton Vikings
Bisminster Battalion (#2) v (#15) Castleton Vikings 27 February 2021 Bisminster Battalion (#2) 8 – 4 (1–3, 4–0, 3–1) (#15) Castleton Vikings
Castleton Vikings (#15) v (#2) Bisminster Battalion 28 February 2021 Castleton Vikings (#15) 2 – 3 (2–1, 0–2, 0–0) (#2) Bisminster Battalion
Castleton Vikings (#15) v (#2) Bisminster Battalion 2 March 2021 Castleton Vikings (#15) 2 – 3 (0–2, 2–1, 0–0) (#2) Bisminster Battalion

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	Dyas Stiks (#3)	3 – 2	(#14) Pelmanby Penguins
Dyas Stiks (#3) v (#14) Pelmanby Penguins 24 February 2021 Dyas Stiks (#3) 5 – 1 (2–0, 1–1, 2–0) (#14) Pelmanby Penguins
Dyas Stiks (#3) v (#14) Pelmanby Penguins 27 February 2021 Dyas Stiks (#3) 1 – 3 (1–1, 0–2, 0–0) (#14) Pelmanby Penguins
Pelmanby Penguins (#14) v (#3) Dyas Stiks 28 February 2021 Pelmanby Penguins (#14) 7 – 5 (1–0, 4–3, 2–2) (#3) Dyas Stiks
Pelmanby Penguins (#14) v (#3) Dyas Stiks 2 March 2021 Pelmanby Penguins (#14) 4 – 5 OT (1–2, 0–0, 3–2) (OT: 0–1) (#3) Dyas Stiks
Dyas Stiks (#3) v (#14) Pelmanby Penguins 4 March 2021 Dyas Stiks (#3) 8 – 5 (5–2, 3–1, 0–2) (#14) Pelmanby Penguins

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	Tow Law Bears (#4)	3 – 0	(#13) Kincester Kraken
Tow Law Bears (#4) v (#13) Kincester Kraken 24 February 2021 Tow Law Bears (#4) 4 – 3 (0–0, 3–2, 1–1) (#13) Kincester Kraken
Tow Law Bears (#4) v (#13) Kincester Kraken 27 February 2021 Tow Law Bears (#4) 3 – 1 (3–1, 0–0, 0–0) (#13) Kincester Kraken
Kincester Kraken (#13) v (#4) Tow Law Bears 28 February 2021 Kincester Kraken (#13) 1 – 5 (0–2, 0–2, 1–1) (#4) Tow Law Bears

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	Kuiper Jets (#5)	3 – 0	(#12) Whitby Warriors
Kuiper Jets (#5) v (#12) Whitby Warriors 24 February 2021 Kuiper Jets (#5) 3 – 2 (0–1, 2–1, 1–0) (#12) Whitby Warriors
Kuiper Jets (#5) v (#12) Whitby Warriors 27 February 2021 Kuiper Jets (#5) 3 – 1 (2–1, 1–0, 0–0) (#12) Whitby Warriors
Whitby Warriors (#12) v (#5) Kuiper Jets 28 February 2021 Whitby Warriors (#12) 1 – 6 (1–0, 0–4, 0–2) (#5) Kuiper Jets

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	Hanseong Stingrays (#6)	3 – 1	(#11) Savona Sport
Hanseong Stingrays (#6) v (#11) Savona Sport 24 February 2021 Hanseong Stingrays (#6) 5 – 2 (1–1, 3–1, 1–0) (#11) Savona Sport
Hanseong Stingrays (#6) v (#11) Savona Sport 27 February 2021 Hanseong Stingrays (#6) 4 – 1 (0–1, 1–0, 3–0) (#11) Savona Sport
Savona Sport (#11) v (#6) Hanseong Stingrays 28 February 2021 Savona Sport (#11) 5 – 4 (1–1, 2–1, 2–2) (#6) Hanseong Stingrays
Savona Sport (#11) v (#6) Hanseong Stingrays 2 March 2021 Savona Sport (#11) 2 – 5 (0–1, 1–3, 1–1) (#6) Hanseong Stingrays

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	Craitish Cosmos (#7)	2 – 3	(#10) PB Polar Bears
Craitish Cosmos (#7) v (#10) PB Polar Bears 24 February 2021 Craitish Cosmos (#7) 0 – 3 (0–1, 0–1, 0–1) (#10) PB Polar Bears
Craitish Cosmos (#7) v (#10) PB Polar Bears 27 February 2021 Craitish Cosmos (#7) 5 – 7 (1–4, 2–3, 2–0) (#10) PB Polar Bears
PB Polar Bears (#10) v (#7) Craitish Cosmos 28 February 2021 PB Polar Bears (#10) 1 – 5 (1–1, 0–0, 0–4) (#7) Craitish Cosmos
PB Polar Bears (#10) v (#7) Craitish Cosmos 2 March 2021 PB Polar Bears (#10) 4 – 5 (1–2, 1–3, 2–0) (#7) Craitish Cosmos
Craitish Cosmos (#7) v (#10) PB Polar Bears 4 March 2021 Craitish Cosmos (#7) 1 – 3 (0–1, 0–2, 1–0) (#10) PB Polar Bears

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	Deacon Thunder (#8)	3 – 2	(#9) Mercury Hornets
Deacon Thunder (#8) v (#9) Mercury Hornets 24 February 2021 Deacon Thunder (#8) 3 – 2 (0–1, 0–1, 3–0) (#9) Mercury Hornets
Deacon Thunder (#8) v (#9) Mercury Hornets 27 February 2021 Deacon Thunder (#8) 2 – 11 (0–3, 0–6, 2–2) (#9) Mercury Hornets
Mercury Hornets (#9) v (#8) Deacon Thunder 28 February 2021 Mercury Hornets (#9) 2 – 1 (1–1, 0–0, 1–0) (#8) Deacon Thunder
Mercury Hornets (#9) v (#8) Deacon Thunder 2 March 2021 Mercury Hornets (#9) 4 – 5 (3–1, 0–3, 1–1) (#8) Deacon Thunder
Deacon Thunder (#8) v (#9) Mercury Hornets 4 March 2021 Deacon Thunder (#8) 4 – 3 2OT (1–1, 1–1, 1–1) (OT: 1–0) (#9) Mercury Hornets

Quarter-finals

The quarter-finals were played as a best-of-five series in March 2021.

	Nafferton Panthers (#1)	3 – 0	(#10) PB Polar Bears
Nafferton Panthers (#1) v (#10) PB Polar Bears 6 March 2021 Nafferton Panthers (#1) 4 – 3 (1–1, 3–0, 0–2) (#10) PB Polar Bears
Nafferton Panthers (#1) v (#10) PB Polar Bears 7 March 2021 Nafferton Panthers (#1) 3 – 1 (2–0, 1–1, 0–0) (#10) PB Polar Bears
PB Polar Bears (#10) v (#1) Nafferton Panthers 10 March 2021 PB Polar Bears (#10) 1 – 3 (0–0, 1–1, 0–2) (#1) Nafferton Panthers

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	Bisminster Battalion (#2)	3 – 1	(#8) Deacon Thunder
Bisminster Battalion (#2) v (#8) Deacon Thunder 6 March 2021 Bisminster Battalion (#2) 3 – 1 (0–1, 1–0, 2–0) (#8) Deacon Thunder
Bisminster Battalion (#2) v (#8) Deacon Thunder 7 March 2021 Bisminster Battalion (#2) 5 – 1 (1–1, 2–0, 2–0) (#8) Deacon Thunder
Deacon Thunder (#8) v (#2) Bisminster Battalion 10 March 2021 Deacon Thunder (#8) 4 – 3 OT (0–0, 2–0, 1–3) (OT: 1–0) (#2) Bisminster Battalion
Deacon Thunder (#8) v (#2) Bisminster Battalion 13 March 2021 Deacon Thunder (#8) 0 – 6 (0–1, 0–3, 0–2) (#2) Bisminster Battalion

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	Dyas Stiks (#3)	3 – 0	(#6) Hanseong Stingrays
Dyas Stiks (#3) v (#6) Hanseong Stingrays 6 March 2021 Dyas Stiks (#3) 3 – 0 (1–0, 1–0, 1–0) (#6) Hanseong Stingrays
Dyas Stiks (#3) v (#6) Hanseong Stingrays 7 March 2021 Dyas Stiks (#3) 5 – 3 (1–1, 4–2, 0–0) (#6) Hanseong Stingrays
Hanseong Stingrays (#6) v (#3) Dyas Stiks 10 March 2021 Hanseong Stingrays (#6) 2 – 3 (1–0, 1–1, 0–2) (#3) Dyas Stiks

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	Tow Law Bears (#4)	3 – 0	(#5) Kuiper Jets
Tow Law Bears (#4) v (#5) Kuiper Jets 6 March 2021 Tow Law Bears (#4) 4 – 2 (1–0, 1–1, 2–1) (#5) Kuiper Jets
Tow Law Bears (#4) v (#5) Kuiper Jets 7 March 2021 Tow Law Bears (#4) 2 – 0 (1–0, 0–0, 1–0) (#5) Kuiper Jets
Kuiper Jets (#5) v (#4) Tow Law Bears 10 March 2021 Kuiper Jets (#5) 3 – 6 (2–2, 1–3, 0–1) (#4) Tow Law Bears

Semi-finals

The semi-finals were played as a best-of-seven series in March 2021.

	Nafferton Panthers (#1)	4 – 2	(#4) Tow Law Bears
Nafferton Panthers (#1) v (#4) Tow Law Bears 17 March 2021 Nafferton Panthers (#1) 4 – 2 (0–1, 1–0, 3–1) (#4) Tow Law Bears
Nafferton Panthers (#1) v (#4) Tow Law Bears 20 March 2021 Nafferton Panthers (#1) 1 – 2 (0–1, 0–0, 1–1) (#4) Tow Law Bears
Tow Law Bears (#4) v (#1) Nafferton Panthers 21 March 2021 Tow Law Bears (#4) 3 – 5 (1–1, 0–1, 2–3) (#1) Nafferton Panthers
Tow Law Bears (#4) v (#1) Nafferton Panthers 23 March 2021 Tow Law Bears (#4) 2 – 3 OT (1–1, 1–1, 0–0) (OT: 0–1) (#1) Nafferton Panthers
Nafferton Panthers (#1) v (#4) Tow Law Bears 25 March 2021 Nafferton Panthers (#1) 2 – 4 (2–1, 0–2, 0–1) (#4) Tow Law Bears
Tow Law Bears (#4) v (#1) Nafferton Panthers 27 March 2021 Tow Law Bears (#4) 1 – 4 (1–1, 0–1, 0–2) (#1) Nafferton Panthers

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	Bisminster Battalion (#2)	4 – 1	(#3) Dyas Stiks
Bisminster Battalion (#2) v (#3) Dyas Stiks 17 March 2021 Bisminster Battalion (#2) 3 – 5 (1–2, 2–2, 0–1) (#3) Dyas Stiks
Bisminster Battalion (#2) v (#3) Dyas Stiks 20 March 2021 Bisminster Battalion (#2) 6 – 1 (4–0, 1–1, 1–0) (#3) Dyas Stiks
Dyas Stiks (#3) v (#2) Bisminster Battalion 21 March 2021 Dyas Stiks (#3) 3 – 4 (1–2, 1–1, 1–1) (#2) Bisminster Battalion
Dyas Stiks (#3) v (#2) Bisminster Battalion 23 March 2021 Dyas Stiks (#3) 1 – 6 (1–3, 0–3, 0–0) (#2) Bisminster Battalion
Bisminster Battalion (#2) v (#3) Dyas Stiks 25 March 2021 Bisminster Battalion (#2) 2 – 1 OT (1–0, 0–0, 0–1) (OT: 1–0) (#3) Dyas Stiks

Final

The final will be played as a best-of-seven series in March–April 2021.

	Nafferton Panthers (#1)	4 – 3	(#2) Bisminster Battalion
Nafferton Panthers (#1) v (#2) Bisminster Battalion 29 March 2021 Nafferton Panthers (#1) 4 – 3 (0–2, 2–1, 2–0) (#2) Bisminster Battalion
Nafferton Panthers (#1) v (#2) Bisminster Battalion 31 March 2021 Nafferton Panthers (#1) 2 – 6 (1–3, 1–2, 0–1) (#2) Bisminster Battalion
Bisminster Battalion (#2) v (#1) Nafferton Panthers 2 April 2021 Bisminster Battalion (#2) 1 – 2 (1–1, 0–1, 0–0) (#1) Nafferton Panthers
Bisminster Battalion (#2) v (#1) Nafferton Panthers 4 April 2021 Bisminster Battalion (#2) 4 – 3 OT (0–1, 1–1, 2–1) (OT: 1–0) (#1) Nafferton Panthers
Nafferton Panthers (#1) v (#2) Bisminster Battalion 7 April 2021 Nafferton Panthers (#1) 4 – 3 OT (1–1, 1–0, 1–2) (OT: 1–0) (#2) Bisminster Battalion
Bisminster Battalion (#2) v (#1) Nafferton Panthers 10 April 2021 Bisminster Battalion (#2) 6 – 5 3OT (0–2, 1–3, 4–0) (OT: 1–0) (#1) Nafferton Panthers
Nafferton Panthers (#1) v (#2) Bisminster Battalion 11 April 2021 Nafferton Panthers (#1) 2 – 0 (2–0, 0–0, 0–0) (#2) Bisminster Battalion